Bail prayers of AMRI directors to be heard on Monday

The hearing of bail prayers of five directors of AMRI Hospital, where over 90 persons suffocated to death after a fire in the basement, concluded before the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday.

A division bench comprising Justice Asim Roy and Justice Tarun Gupta said the order in the bail prayers of R S Agarwal, R S Goenka Manish Goenka, Prasant Goenka and Ravi Todi would be passed by Monday.

Appearing for the state, counsel Kalyan Banerjee opposed the bail prayers and submitted that the AMRI authorities had deliberately violated norms and stored cotton and medical supplies in the basement of the annexe building, where the fire occurred. He also stated that there was a blaze last October before the December 9 fire, when an employee was suspended for having informed the fire brigade.

Banerjee claimed that employees on duty on the fateful night had not informed the fire brigade because of fear of action by the authorities. Balai Roy, counsel for the accused, submitted that the AMRI board of directors had not taken any resolution to keep cotton and other materials in the basement of the seven-storied, centrally-airconditioned building.

Neither was there any resolution to take action against any employee if the fire brigade was informed, he submitted.

Roy submitted that day to day affairs of the hospital were not run by the board and as such its members could not be held responsible for the fire that started from the basement. He submitted that the five accused were in custody for nearly 70 days and should be enlarged in bail.

A total of nine directors and four employees were arrested in connection with the case, of whom only octogenarian Dr Moni Chetri, director and in whose name the hospital's license was given, was granted bail on medical grounds and due to his age by a lower court.